The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today reinforce the Love of God that will never forget us as we are the focus of the Work of the Son calling us to transformation.
The Reading from the Prophet Isaiah 49.8-15 asserts the constant Love of God for humanity.
* [49:8] You: the individual is not named; perhaps Cyrus or the prophet.
* [49:12] Syene: now called Aswan, at the first cataract of the Nile in southern Egypt. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 49 | USCCB, n.d.)
* [Psalm 145] A hymn in acrostic form; every verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Acrostic poems usually do not develop ideas but consist rather of loosely connected statements. The singer invites all to praise God (Ps 145:1–3, 21). The “works of God” make God present and invite human praise (Ps 145:4–7); they climax in a confession (Ps 145:8–9). God’s mighty acts show forth divine kingship (Ps 145:10–20), a major theme in the literature of early Judaism and in Christianity. (Psalms, PSALM 145 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus presents The Work of the Son.
* [5:17] Sabbath observance (10) was based on God’s resting on the seventh day (cf. Gn 2:2–3; Ex 20:11). Philo and some rabbis insisted that God’s providence remains active on the sabbath, keeping all things in existence, giving life in birth and taking it away in death. Other rabbis taught that God rested from creating, but not from judging (=ruling, governing). Jesus here claims the same authority to work as the Father, and, in the discourse that follows, the same divine prerogatives: power over life and death (Jn 5:21, 24–26) and judgment (Jn 5:22, 27).
* [5:19] This proverb or parable is taken from apprenticeship in a trade: the activity of a son is modeled on that of his father. Jesus’ dependence on the Father is justification for doing what the Father does.
* [5:21] Gives life: in the Old Testament, a divine prerogative (Dt 32:39; 1 Sm 2:6; 2 Kgs 5:7; Tb 13:2; Is 26:19; Dn 12:2).
* [5:22] Judgment: another divine prerogative, often expressed as acquittal or condemnation (Dt 32:36; Ps 43:1).
* [5:28–29] While Jn 5:19–27 present realized eschatology, Jn 5:28–29 are future eschatology; cf. Dn 12:2. (John, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)
Mike Cherney comments that the challenges of human conflict, economic inequality, political corruption, environmental crises, and social fragmentation are immense. I feel that I cannot ignore the call to engage with these issues through the lens of faith. Both Isaiah and John offer a vision of a world restored to righteousness through divine intervention, but I do not see this vision as something passive. I feel that there is an imperative for my personal action. That is the focus of my prayer today.
Dear Lord, I struggle to understand the frequent hardness of human hearts. On a personal level, I worry for my children and grandchildren. Help me to find peace as I strive to discern my mission. Open my heart and my mind to your call. Guide my actions as an agent of Your kingdom. (Cherney, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “The wonderful exchange,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Unless the Word of God had first assumed our mortal flesh he could not have died for us. Only in that way was the immortal God able to die and to give life to mortal humans. Therefore, by this double sharing he brought about a wonderful exchange. We made death possible for him, and he made life possible for us." (excerpt from Sermon 218c,1) (Schwager, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments are not available at publication time.
The Word Among Us Meditation on Isaiah 49:8-15 comments that God had to reassure the people of Zion that he treasured them even more than a mother cares for her newborn child. Even if she should forget, the Lord says, “I will never forget you” (49:15).
So today, if you’re feeling forsaken, like the people of Zion, imagine yourself as an infant being cradled in the arms of your heavenly Father. Cry out for him to hold you close to his heart. Let his loving gaze, his strong arms, and his soothing voice reassure you that he has not forgotten you. He will always show you his tender mercy. He really does have good plans for you. Rest and relax in his loving embrace.
“Thank you, Lord, that you never forget me.” (Meditation on Isaiah 49:8-15, n.d.)
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Author and CAC team member Cassidy Hall who reflects on the cost of making choices out of shame and the “toxic silence” it creates.
In the Christian context, the toxicity of silent bystanders creates and feeds countless acts of violence: the sexual abuse in many church settings and its continuation through empty apologies; Christianity’s lack of reckoning with its history of colonization; denominations’ refusal to honor and elevate the leadership and dignity of women, people of color, refugees, people with disabilities, and people from other marginalized communities; churches filling with Christian nationalism and white supremacy culture; the countless times the silent acceptance of bad theology has caused an LGBTQIA+ person to hate or harm themselves; and more. This is the silence of harm, violence, shame, and toxicity….
Toxic silence is embedded in the fabric of our daily lives…. Yet a [contemplative] loving silence can also be pursued, and we can seek and find it even in the chaos of our days. Sometimes it seeps in with our efforts to repeat an internal mantra or take an intentional pause, and other times it pours in like the colorful morning light through the east-facing window. This is the contemplative silence I continually seek and practice. This silence regenerates, regulates, allows for the emergence of loving presence and action. The more we engage in the silences that aren’t toxic—the beautiful, loving, and infinite possibilities of silence—the more we encounter silence as a creative, generative force and not a destructive one. (Rohr, n.d.)
We contemplate the analogy of being known by God as an expectant mother knowing the child of her womb and invoke the Spirit to extend our prayer petitions to include all the experiences of life in the womb that can include both connection in love and Divine Presence in distress.
References
Cherney, M. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved March 18, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-march-18-2026
Isaiah, CHAPTER 49 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 18, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/49?8
John, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 18, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/5?17
Meditation on Isaiah 49:8-15. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved March 18, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/03/18/1520771/
Psalms, PSALM 145 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 18, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/145?8
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Silenced by Shame. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved March 18, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/silenced-by-shame/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). My Father Is Working Still, and I Am Working. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 18, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
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